One common sight at the Shore, especially along the roads onto the islands, are turtles crossing back and forth during late spring-mid summer. Females often travel long distances to find the perfect spot to lay their eggs. One particularly vulnerable species is the diamondback terrapin, New Jersey's only salt-marsh turtle. Their numbers are low due to harvesting for food, getting caught in crab traps and vehicle strikes.
The NJ Department of Environmental Protections suggests taking these steps to help keep these protected animals thriving at the Shore:
1. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you to be able to see any turtles coming onto the roadway.
2. Use caution to avoid hitting a turtle in the road, but do not swerve suddenly, leave the lane or stop suddenly.
3. Watch for oncoming vehicles, signal properly when pulling over and activate vehicle hazard signals if you decide to pull over to assist a turtle crossing a road. Allow turtles to safely cross roads unaided if a lack of oncoming traffic allows them to do so.
4. Handle turtles gently and avoid excessive handling if it is necessary to pick them up. Most turtles can be picked up by the side of their shells near the mid-point of the body. Do not pick up a turtle by its tail, as doing so may frighten or injure the reptile. Wear gloves or wash your hands after handling a turtle.
5. Move the turtle in the direction that it is heading. It may seem helpful to assist the turtle by moving it to a nearby water body, but the turtle may not be heading toward water. A turtle will turn around if it is put in the wrong direction.
6. Only experienced handlers should ever attempt to lift a snapping turtle. The safest way to assist snapping turtles is to use branches or similar objects to prod them along from behind.
7. Never take a turtle into your personal possession. All native turtles are protected in New Jersey.
8. Do not disturb a nesting turtle and keep children and pets away from it. Most turtle eggs will hatch in 60 to 80 days. A small cage can be placed around the nest to offer some additional protection for the first 30 to 45 days, but it must be removed before the hatchlings emerge. The DEP does not relocate turtles found in yards or turtle nests.
To learn more about our native turtles, visit the Wetlands Institute on Stone Harbor Boulevard, which is dedicated to the preservation of our salt-marshes. It's a great place for kids to learn and explore the natural wonders of the Shore!
|
